Press Release Article

U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program honors Port Authority for investing in one of the nation's greenest vehicle fleets

The Port Authority's continued investment in one of the nation's greenest vehicle fleets has earned the agency another honor today from Empire Clean Cities, a coalition of the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program, at the group's 6th annual stakeholder meeting at the Queens Museum.

The Empire Green Fleets (EGF) program analyzed equipment and fuel-use data for various fleets, leading to the presentation of the Empire Green Fleet Certification Award to the Port Authority for significantly reducing its vehicles' emissions and increasing fuel efficiency.

Fleets certified through EGF have implemented alternative fuels like natural gas and biodiesel, advanced vehicle technologies like hybrid and electric power, as well as reducing idling time, improving routes and driving more at less congested times.

“The Port Authority has adopted an alternative fuel strategy in many of its operations and facilities to help reduce our carbon output,” said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye. “The agency is proud to receive this recognition, which exemplifies our commitment to sustainability and improving air quality around the region.”

“We will continue our efforts in advancing the Port Authority's Clean Air Strategy through our investments in green fleet vehicles,” said Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Deborah Gramiccioni. “It is essential for this agency do its part to strike a balance in protecting the region's environment while improving transportation infrastructure and creating economic growth.”

Earlier this year, the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners approved a $28 million investment toward the purchase of more than 200 “green” vehicles, which will bring the number of alternative-fuel, environmentally friendly cars and trucks to approximately 85 percent of the agency's entire fleet.

The Port Authority continues to replace many of its older, gasoline-powered cars and trucks with a variety of low-emissions vehicles, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-certified SmartWay, hybrid, electric, natural gas and clean diesel vehicles. The agency's fleet of roughly 2,000 on-road and off-road vehicles ranked the third greenest last year among 38,000 federal, state and local agencies, according to a survey issued by The 100 Best Fleets in North America™ and Green Fleet magazine.

The Port Authority is a longtime proponent of reducing the use of fossil fuels in its vehicles and seeks ways to increase its use of clean energy vehicles. The agency's fleet – composed of biodiesel, compressed natural gas, Ethanol-85 and hybrid electric on-road vehicles, as well as a smaller off-road fleet that includes use of electricity, propane and solar power – eliminates more than 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from the air annually.

For more information regarding the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's Environmental Initiatives and Sustainability Policy, visit www.panynj.gov.

Contact:The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey212-435-7777

Founded in 1921, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. The agency's network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, where construction crews are building the iconic One World Trade Center, which is now the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from either the State of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information, please visit http://www.panynj.gov.